Candy Crush Addiction

 by Alex Brown

I wish i had a dime for every time you pulled out that damn phone out of your pocket and played Candy Crush!
I'd be payed beyond the level you cant conquer.
What if...You paid attention to me like you did Candy Crush?
Would you love me just as passionately?
Would you spend all your time tryin to get on my level?
Would you beg your friends for their resources just to play with me?
Could I breathe more lives into you?
Would you tell everyone you were addicted to me?
How in love would we be?
What If you held me like you held your phone?
Went to sleep playing with me
With me laying on your chest while you were
Dreaming about me?
Then Waking up touching on me...eyes alert
mouth perched like the Joker's smirk...
Putting your fingers all over me
What if you couldnt pay others any attention because it was all directed to me?
Would you yell and scream and wanna fight me because I made you wait 12 minutes to talk to me? be with me?
I doubt it...and thats how you make me feel...
Because I know you would all this and more for Candy Crush...and thats sad...but real

The Chronicles of A. Brown: The Need For Added Value

The Chronicles of A. Brown: The Need For Added Value:  by   Alex Brown It has often been said that is takes all kinds of people to make the world go round. Now if you would have aske...

The Need For Added Value

 by  Alex Brown

It has often been said that is takes all kinds of people to make the world go round. Now if you would have asked me that question a few decades ago I probably would have disagreed. But after you've lived and seen a few things I can say with complete confidence YES! Some folk are OUT of their mind! People come in all different shapes sizes and colors and we as human beings must learn to celebrate the similarities as well as the differences in everyone. Love it or hate it people are the way they are. But I do believe that because some of peoples motives may not be completely solid that you have to engage cautiously. Everybody is not trying to see you progress and some folk want to straight up kill you vibe and your dreams. Do you know of any? Can you recognize what they do beneath the surface?  Today I want you discuss a few and see if you can recognize anyone you may know. Lets go...


The Drainer or Taker


The drainer/taker  literally sucks the life out of any situation. They are the people who always take. They are incapable of giving. It hurts them to do this.  Birthday? Superbowl? Shower?They are coming! They are the ones that attend every party/event but NEVER bring anything. Never offer an encouraging word. Poison! They are generally walking around with a plate that's full of food with their cup brimming with ice and your GOOD stuff. They are always in need of something. a loan, a ride, a meal, common sense! They  are negative people who things just never seem to fall the right way for. They constantly complain and bring you down in the process. Their hands look like cups! You know someone like this don't you? You have that person in mind? I know you do because I can vividly remember talking about THIS person and someone else calling me to talk about another person like this. They are legion! Trust me! There are too many to count. It's a sad reality but let me offer this... We actually NEED these people. Why you ask? What for? All they do is take! Well, here's the first thing, they remind us of the things we DON'T want to become. 2nd. They provide endless commentary for us to get on the phone and bitch and complain to others about what they don't do! (I always feel better when I get done complaining about them) The best thing you can do is to keep the number of drainers in your life to a minimum. Believe it or not, you can actually control the amount of drama you have coming in. I'm a witness. 


Just Enoughers


The Just Enougher is the person stays right there on the edge and does just enough to make their presence known. They are generally people who are nice and likable. They are accepted because we like pleasant people. JE's never want to get into a debate or confrontation because they don't want to offend others and are too scared to debate or defend their point. They would rather just be cool and keep things light. JE's are very safe. They never want to overextend themselves. They do more than the drainers in the grand scheme of things but not enough to make a significant difference. You may notice that they are there and then again you may not. It depends on the person. The hardest thing to deal with is that They are right on the verge of being able to do and be something some very special BUT the character flaw will always come back and resurface right before they do because THIS kind of person believes that it truly doesn't take all that!!! Its like bland fried chicken. You can eat it but ehhhh...You know someone like this don't you? You can see them cant you?


Givers or VA's

These people are the crux to any organization and group. Givers are the reason why things get done and why they get done well. They are the people who make our lives better and put our minds at ease. When they walk in the room people are relieved or excited. VA's  are the ones who buy extra tickets, bring extra food, challenge us to be better, get the ball rolling on things. They are the self starters who never have to be asked to do. VA's just go where the need is. They are the movers, the shakers, the workers, the fighters, the dreamers, the doers, VA's are what I call value adders. They help us to be more and do more. They are efficient.  Often times they don't want or need accolades because they are not here for that. Its just "what they do". They challenge us to think and push us to our limits.  When they leave things are in a better state. You know someone like that don't you? People that add value to your life are like precious jewels. Often times they are our life lines. They speak life and vision into us when death and darkness are all around. Their kind and encouraging words resonate in our souls long after they've been spoken. They live to inspire others. You have someone in mind that does that don't you? 


Here's the Hook

I'm sure you know all these people and can put a face with a name. Here's the thing... At some point, we all have been a "drainer/taker" or a person that does "just enough" but the goal is to get to a point where the main thing that we do... the ONLY thing we do is add value. Doing more requires more effort and time but it also gives a bigger sense of satisfaction and self worth. People who are VA's know that their pitcher cant be refilled if it is full.  Drainers/Takers CAN'T add value because all they do is bring negative energy to a situation. Just enoughers can but choose not to add value because they are only willing to give just enough to get by. Only givers GIVE without consequence because they understand the reason for it. It makes everybody better. Being better is what we should all strive to be.  People that add value to your life change you in ways that are sometimes hard to explain but you know that whatever they brought was needed. If you have VA's in your life DON'T let them go. They are not easily replaceable. They are lifelines that are meant to help you along your journey. Its difficult to find them because there are so many pretenders. But when you find them...you know. They are remarkable folk who are worth their weight in gold! Take inventory on the people in your life and see where they fall. You'll be surprised. But remember YOU are the most valuable thing and the people around you MUST add to that...because you're worth it. Be well...A.Brown

The Chronicles of A. Brown: The Devastation of Indecision

The Chronicles of A. Brown: The Devastation of Indecision: by Alex Brown Whether you're trying to choose whats for dinner or if you leave a job for a new one or which suit to wear the abili...

The Devastation of Indecision

by Alex Brown


Whether you're trying to choose whats for dinner or if you leave a job for a new one or which suit to wear the ability to make a decision it critical. Many people lack the ability to make solid decisions which in turn set off a series of events that can be quite catastrophic. Have you ever been at the grocery store and the person is walking very slow down the aisle looking from side to side and confused? How about at the mall when you are trying to find a shirt for work and you go to the section and there is a person standing in front of the section looking lost with 7 shirts in their hands? What about at your favorite fast food joint? The person in front of you is looking at the menu like the store changes the menu every hour! You are looking at that person like...MAN IF YOU DONT COME ON!!!!! Right?? Its hard sometimes I know but the inability to make a concrete decision can bring everything and everyone in its path to a grinding halt.

Recently, I had to make some decisions about letting some things and some people go. It was something that was extremely difficult to do. When you love and care for someone the last thing you want to do is be at odds with them. You know the right thing to do but its hard to  In those situations, no one wants to put their adult hat on and do what must be done. What if you make the wrong decision? How will they respond? How can you live with the fallout of that? I have a few things that might help you ease the burden...


Decision Making Is Connected To Your Purpose

Your purpose is connected to your ability to decide on things in your life.
Whatever you desire you must first make an effort to state the things that you want. Wanna have a kid? Decide! Want a new career? Decide! Overweight? Decide! Then you must initiate action in order to reach your goal. What many people don't realize is that when you make a decision everything has to align with the decision that you are making. People, activities,  and everything else all have to adjust to you. That means that what you do is important and it has a direct effect on everything else around it. Your choice is powerful so Stop Wasting Time!  Don't negate the situation by thinking that it's no big deal. It is!


Being Indecisive Waste Time and Cost Money

Whenever you make a decision the action then has to happen. When you delay the process you cause things to be delayed and it cost you more time and money. Remember when you couldnt decide what to make for dinner? You sat around until it got too late to cook and you had to end up going out to pick up something quick? What if you had to buy for multiple people? Already the cost is mounting. Now its late and you end up spending double the amount it would have cost had you just made the decision to cook those chicken wings! What about the ticket you had to pay? You should have paid it sometime ago but you didn't now its doubled in cost. It always cost more to be indecisive.


Indecisiveness will cause decisions to be made for you.

When people cant make up their mind their opinion will not be taken into consideration. How many times have we told our children if you do not make a choice one will be made for you? Many times right? For some, thats their way of operating. They never want to decide and end up taking what's been given to them. If you want whats yours then you have to speak up and decide that you're going to do whats neccessary to secure it. When you are indecisive or decide to do nothing the blame falls solely on you. Be it a relationship you want to progress or a job you want to be considered for. The inabilty to decide will cause great friction and it may even cause you to lose someone or something.


The life you have should be spent wisely doing things you enjoy with people you love and cherish. Stop thinking about what you should do and simply do it. Here's a real kicker! Indecisiveness is really a decision! You cant remain on the fence because the devil owns the fence! So remember, your actions have a greater impact on others than you think. The world aligns to your decisions and when you don't make them it cost time and money. Moreover, by not making them one will surely be made for you and thats not always a good thing. I want my decisions to affect me in such a way that people around me benefit because I chose to act. You should consider that. The next time you're in limbo about a relationship or job remember this... It may be hard today but It will cost you more tomorrow to do nothing. Be well... A. Brown

The Hand Of Influence

As a young man who grew up in the inner city, I was introduced to alot of negative influences early on. That is what happens when you're  the bi product of a single parent home. You often spend time wondering how different things would be if your dad was around.  But the distractions keep you busy enough so that you don't have to worry about those things for too long. The thing about negativity is that its always around waiting for you.

Getting involved in those things so early meant growing up way too fast. Though I had some male figures in my life, many were older versions of what I was becoming.  We could relate to one another but its hard to take advice from someone who STILL had the same issues as you. I wish someone would have told my father to hang around and school me so I didn't have to suffer for it. I wasted so much of my young life being involved in drugs and drinking and women. From trying to fit in with the in-crowd to developing a persona that gave the impression that I was tougher than I really was at the time.

I did a lot to over compensate for not having a father around. I hope that we as men can begin to see the impact we can have on future generations. Men don't realize the power they posses! The strength its takes to refrain from making emotional choices. The discipline it takes to see a task through to the end (even when you're tired). The will to make tough choices for the benefit of your child (that you'll be hated for later) and not even bat an eye. These are some of the things men must learn to do so that they may teach their children.

I know for a fact that women do the job of fathers more times than not and though she does it, what does that say about men? Are we not capable of guiding future leaders and giving them the tools they need? I am thankful for the job my mom did with me. I just wondered what if sometimes?...What if he would have been around all this time? Would it've mattered?

 I have good relationships with my kids and Im happy I made the decision to stay. Of course they are tight with their mother. I expect that. But I know that one day they'll know. They'll understand the sacrifice made for them. I just hope I'm around to see it. Often times the influence of a father isn't seen until years later. I've had to walk a long road without a father. A road with many twist and turns.

 I've made some bad decisions along the way but I've learned from them. All of my experiences have made me into the man I have become. I have tried to do the best I can as a father and I hope to help aid my children along so they dont make the same mistakes I made. Mistakes that took  more than a decade to fix. Mistakes that could land them in jail for years, mistakes that could make them teenage parents. mistakes that could kill them.

I dont want that for them. I want to be prouder of them than I am now and Im pretty damn proud of my kids!  Its something to see them transform in front of your eyes but that's a perk of staying around! Brothers my message is simple. Don't ROB your children of your presence. Protect you seed. Nuture it, Sacrifice for it, and love it.   Your influence is essential to the well being of the future. Your future! Remember it doesn't matter where you start the race just be a  willing participant and see it through...Til the END. You'll be So Proud.  Happy Father's Day. Be well.  -A. Brown

Misplaced Priorities

Often times we lose sight of what's important in our lives. How does this happen? Sometimes we get a little busier than we should or we take little things for granted or we waste our precious time on things that are not worthy of us. In these times it is always a blessing that something or someone comes along and helps us to realize whats important. I have seen a few of these examples as well as experienced a few of my own. Wanna hear one? Well here it go...


I recently went back to work after being on spring vacation. I arrived to see several dozen kids wearing sneakers that I personally know cost 200 dollars. I probably wouldn't have paid attention but so many kids had on the same color shoes that I couldn't help but notice. I just started counting the money. two hundred here and there and the amount just kept rising. Before I knew it. I had counted ten THOUSAND dollars worth of sneakers!! So many of those kids had the same shoes on that I began to become disgusted. First, I believe anything made in a factory or warehouse can be sold for anything. This means that these shoes can be sold for a lot less and they would still make the corporations happy at the end of the quarter.  Second and most importantly, what really upset me was the fact that the parents of several of those kids (who aren't stellar students by the way) could spend 200 hundred dollars on a pair of tennis shoes but didn't feel compelled to buy their children pencils and paper. (10 pack of pencils 1 dollar. pack of paper 2 dollars) Several students asked me for materials and I was dumbfounded because I couldn't believe what I was seeing! Then it hit me. WHAT are we teaching our children really? What is their perception? If they are watching us then what are WE doing? 
Here it is...


 Misplaced priorities. When you are defined by what's on your feet rather than by what's in your heart then you have misplaced your priorities. When our children are falling by the way side and failing badly while we tend to our own wants and needs then our priorities are misplaced. Lastly, when we value status more than we value relationships we have misplaced our priorities.


Please believe me when I say that I am not standing on a soap box. I believe that there are times when things need to be said. We are all human and we are all guilty of misplacing priorities. But it is imperative that we do better and BE better. It makes no sense that we are going to off the deep end and as long as we look like we have it together its ok. It's not.  By no means am I saying not to buy your children nice things but we need to remember that there simply is no substitute for morals and values. Those things are investments that we pass on to future generations. Watering it down with materials is not a suitable option. Bottom Line GET IT TOGETHER! THINK ABOUT YOUR DECISIONS! THEN REACT ACCORDINGLY!  The relationships we fail to nuture will wane and eventually die unless we take the time to make important people in our lives a priority. I know I need to do better. Im sure you do too.  Let's take heed and make people stand there and count up the values that we gave to others until the number is too high for them to fathom. Be well...                      -    A. Brown